A ground-breaking ceremony and site dedication were held on December 21, 1955. The site of the temple is on , which includes the LDS-owned Church College of New Zealand, a secondary school for students aged twelve to eighteen. The temple is , has one ordinance room, three sealing rooms, and a baptistery. The spire rises to a height of . The Hamilton New Zealand Temple was built entirely by church labour missionaries who volunteered all of their time. Local members supported these workers with money, food, and lodging.